Postgame: D.C. United

WASHINGTON – It was a quiet visitors’ locker room at RFK Stadium after the Crew was eliminated from playoff contention with a 3-2 loss to D.C. United.

“Not much has been said right now,” Eddie Gaven said shortly after the game ended. “We’ll probably talk more at the team meal later at the hotel.”

It was a tough loss to digest. As a neutral observer would tell you, it was one of the most exciting games of the season, a back-and-forth affair with no shortage of drama or excitement. It is a sentiment that might be acknowledged reluctantly in Columbus, sure, but it was a high-energy game from the opening kickoff.

The end result, however, is the Crew missing the postseason for the first time in Robert Warzycha’s tenure as head coach.

“The guys couldn’t have given any more tonight,” midfielder Chris Birchall said. “We went all-out for the win when it was 2-2 and they caught us on the break. That’s how it goes sometimes – you either score the winner or concede and lose the game. That’s what happened. It’s unfortunate.

“It’s been a successful second half of the season. I think the team has improved and hopefully if we keep the team together we can do even better next season.”

After a 4-0-2 streak that pushed the Crew back into playoff contention, the club is now 2-4-1 in its last seven matches. In addition, designated player Federico Higuain notched an assist after going seven straight without a goal or an assist, one of those being a last-minute reserve affair due to injury. His seven assists lead the club.

All that remains is next Sunday’s season finale against Toronto FC at home.

“It hurts, but now we just have to look to next week and go out,” goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum said. “We still have a lot to play for even though we can’t make the playoffs. Guys are going to want to show what they’ve got.”

Added Gaven: “You always want to play for something, but it’s tough when all of a sudden you’re out of the playoffs. There’s really not that much to play for. It’s tough to really have too many comments right now because the season is over and there’s so many emotions.”

Missing Marshall
I thought it was odd when I got to the stadium to see Chad Marshall going through agility drills on a field otherwise devoid of Crew players. Then came the word that the captain was being scratched from the lineup due to an ankle injury, although head coach Robert Warzycha told me he was not sure which ankle was injured.

“It popped up Thursday morning at practice,” the coach said. “He was getting treatment and we thought everything was going to be OK but today when he came to the stadium he went on the field but he was in too much pain.”

Marshall watched the game from a suite along with players who will play in tomorrow’s reserve league match.

“Chad’s an inspirational player,” Birchall said. “He’s one of the best on the team and one of the best defenders in the league. To lose his leadership and his size and his aggression on the pitch, (it hurt). But I thought the team coped well.”

“Danny did a good job,” said central defender Carlos Mendes, who went the full game after missing the last eight due to injury. “We have experience and both of us felt pretty comfortable.

“We’re disappointed. The season is over. It’s just disappointment all around. We fought hard, but obviously not good enough and we came up short in the end. “

Added Birchall: “Danny played well in the back, but unfortunately if you concede three goals you’re probably always going to lose the game.”

United's first goal came when the home team put together at least seven straight touches while running through the Crew defense, culminating with Nick DeLeon's goal. The second was after Justin Meram tried to deflect a long cross out of the Crew's area with his chest but instead sent it right to the top of the area. As the defense froze for a second, Marcelo Saragosa slammed it home.

From there, United seemed to hold the upper hand. The Crew generated a few chances, but the home side seemed to have an edge. It came to fruition when reserves Branko Boskovic and Lewis Neal chased a long ball down the left flank. With just Birchall back, Boskovic tapped it away from the defender and right to a charging Neal.

" I kind of got caught in between, but I think it was in no matter what," Gruenebaum said. "I tried to get there, I couldn’t get there and I just tried to make myself big. It was bouncing for him and he buried it."

Gaven’s goal
Things looked to be headed in the right direction early on when Gaven scored in the seventh minute. After Jairo Arrieta’s header was saved by Bill Hamid, Gaven sent a right-footed volley into the net for his career-high ninth goal of the season.

“It was nice getting the goal early for sure,” he said. “I thought it was going to be our night when that happened. We played very well in the first half, went into halftime with the lead and a few things broke down there obviously in the second half.”